Innovate UK has up to £20 million for businesses with cutting-edge technologies that could be turned into commercial products and services.

Projects can come from any area of technology, science or engineering and any area of the economy including arts, design, media or creative industries.

They could fit in with the challenges that are part of the government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

Alternatively, a project could look at a completely different theme or topic, so long as the idea is disruptive and ahead of anything else in the field.

A wide range of projects will be supported

Funding is available under Innovate UK’s open programme.

This programme is for different types of project, from short feasibility studies to prototyping and longer research and development projects that take ideas to the verge of commercialisation.

One of the businesses to previously get funding through the open programme is Photocentric. The printer and resin manufacturer expects to sell over £8 million of its 3D printers and photopolymers by 2020 – all from an invention that was a consequence of Innovate UK’s grant.

Its outstanding achievement was recognised earlier this year when it won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for international trade.

Projects must demonstrate:

• a game-changing idea that could lead to new products, processes or services
• that they are significantly ahead of others in the field
• a strong and deliverable business plan
• a team with the skills to deliver the project successfully and on time
• awareness of the main risks they will face
• practical financial plans and timelines
• how they will deliver economic impact and growth

Competition information

• the competition opens on 24 September 2018, and the deadline for applications is at midday on 14 November 2018
• projects can be led by a business working alone or with partners or by a research and technology organisation
• all projects must include at least one SME
• we expect projects to range in size between £25,000 and £2 million and to last between 6 and 36 months
• businesses could attract up to 70% of their project costs

The unique situation in Calais in 2016 led to the government taking decisive action to remove vulnerable children from a dangerous situation where they were at risk of violence, abuse and trafficking.

As part the UK’s support for the clearance of the Calais camp, 769 unaccompanied children were transferred from France to the UK. 549 of these children were transferred to reunite with family members already in the UK.

However, some of the children do not qualify for international protection under existing immigration rules, but the government is clear that all those transferred from Calais to reunite with their family members should be able to remain here and that is why a new form of leave will be created.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said:

We can be proud of our record of helping refugee and other vulnerable children affected by conflict, violence and instability, since the start of 2010 we have provided asylum or an alternative form of protection to over 31,000 children.

I am determined that we continue in these efforts and that is why we are introducing a new form of leave, exclusively for children brought to the UK from the Calais camp, so that they can continue rebuilding their lives with their families in the UK.

Calais Leave will grant those who qualify the right to study, work, access public funds and healthcare, and apply for settlement after ten years.

It will only be available to those brought over as part of the Calais clearance exercise between October 2016 and July 2017, who were under the age of 18 at this time, and who had recognised family ties in the UK.

Subject to Parliamentary procedure, this rule change will take effect in the autumn of 2018.

The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) has begun work on a re-inspection of the Home Office’s application of the good character requirement in the case of young persons who apply for registration as British citizens, the report for which was published in July 2017.

The re-inspection will focus on 4 key areas:-

1. the progress made towards the implementation of both of the accepted recommendations
2. the impact on applicants of any delay to the implementation
3. the extent of Home Office communications regarding the registration process, internally with decision makers and externally with stakeholders and applicants
4. in light of recent events, an inspection to cover the Home Office’s handling of applications from children of nationals from the A8 countries whose GBR passport renewal was refused

The evidence gathering process for this inspection has started and the Inspectorate’s established stakeholders will shortly be asked for their input. However, to further inform the re-inspection, the ICIBI is keen to receive written evidence from applicants, guardians, representatives and others with any relevant knowledge, expertise or first-hand experience relating to the 4 areas under consideration.

Please note that the ICIBI does not investigate individual cases or complaints, and is not empowered to overturn Home Office decisions. Information about how to make a complaint can be found on the Home Office website.

Please submit your evidence by close of business on Thursday 4 October 2018.

Please email the Chief Inspector: chiefinspector@icibi.gov.uk

or write to